The Foreign Minister of Bosnia-Hercegovina, Jadranko Prlic, has said he expects improved relations with Croatia following the electoral defeat of the nationalist Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ.

Mr Prlic -- an ethnic Croat on the moderate wing of the HDZ's Bosnian-sister-party -- has been visiting Britain.

He told the BBC Bosnia and Croatia share many interests in trying to establish closer links with European institutions.

Mr Prlic said it would be important for Bosnia to reduce its dependence on the international community but in general he was satisfied with Bosnia's stability. Earlier, western officials overseeing the Bosnian peace process warned that Mr Prlic's party may be barred from contesting local elections in April because it had failed to remove several officials from office for obstructing efforts to strengthen peace in Bosnia.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service